Touring the Lighthouses of Long Island Wine Country

New York’s Long Island is home to almost 20 lighthouses, most of them spread along the northern shore or up at the east end on the North Fork, also known as wine country! Come discover the lighthouses of Long Island wine country with a romantic North Fork getaway!

No Long Island vacation would be complete without at least some time spent investigating the wineries of the North Fork. Long Island’s North Fork is home to nearly 40 wineries and has long been considered as one of the best viticultural areas in the country.

Wineries, while one of the biggest draws to the area, are hardly the only North Fork attraction, however. Long before there were vineyards or a wine country to be enamored of, Long Island was primarily known as a port and for its abundant fishing. Consequently, the Long Island Sound shoreline is dotted with lighthouses.

A good many North Fork lighthouses are still in service. Most are out on tiny islands or are privately operated, so you can only view them from a distance. Others are more easily accessible and some even allow tours.

Come along with us and discover the Lighthouses of Long Island wine country!

Lighthouses of Long Island Wine CountryHorton’s Point Lighthouse
3575 Lighthouse Rd, Southold, NY 11971
Horton’s Point Lighthouse is located in the town of Southold. The museum and tower are open Memorial Day through Columbus Day, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30am to 4pm. Read more about this Long Island lighthouse here.

The following lighthouses can only be seen from the water. Many can be spotted from the Cross Sound Ferry but you can see them all and closer! – on a Lighthouses of Long Island tour. Lighthouse tours are available from a number of companies in the area. The aforementioned East End Seaport Museum offers tours, as does the Peconic Star Fleet.

Orient Point Lighthouse
Located offshore in Plum Gut off Orient Point. Best view from the Cross Sound Ferry. “Take NY 25 to the end to the Cross Sound Ferry.” Also visible from the beach at the ferry terminal.

Plum Island Light
Located on Plum Island off Orient Point- not accessible to the public. The island is owned by the USDA – the installation on the island is used to conduct animal disease “research”. Best View from the Cross Sound Ferry.

Gardiner’s Island Lighthouse
This lighthouse was located in Gardiner’s Bay on a sandbar near the ruins of Fort Tyler. Both the sandbar and lighthouse are long gone now but you can still see the ruins of Fort Tyler.

Little Gull Island Lighthouse
Little Gull Island is a small island owned by the American Museum of Natural History. It and its lighthouse are located at the junction of the Long Island and Block Island Sounds.

Race Rock Lighthouse
Race Rock Lighthouse is located off the western tip of Fisher Island where the Long Island Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Latimer Reef Lighthouse
The Latimer Reef Light can be found off the northeast tip of Fisher Island and is claimed by both Connecticut and Long Island. While the light can only be viewed from Long Island by boat, in Connecticut Latimer Reef is visible from the Stonington Lighthouse parking area.

Lighthouses of Long Island

If you’d like to know more about the Lighthouses of Long Island, this webpage does a very nice job of providing both a map and an overview. When it comes to Long Island lighthouse tours, don’t forget the links above to the East End Seaport Museum and the Peconic Star Fleet.

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on Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at 10:00 am and is filed under North Fork Attractions.
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